Bonding Time

Olivia remembered me right off, since I just saw her two weeks ago, but she wasn't so sure about Grandpa Mark. I told him to lure her with her favorite computer program. It's called "starfall.com," and it's a wonderful little phonics learning program for toddlers. Arora loved it when she was Olivia's age. It worked! Here are some photos of Grandpa and Olivia bonding:

Ugh

I'm coming down with a cold. I've gone all year without the sniffles, and now I'm feeling all stuffy and cruddy. Ugh. I hope I get better really fast, or it will be a miserable drive on Thursday. Mark gave me some  of his Alkaseltzer Plus (good drugs!), so we'll see if I make a speedy recovery.

We've started checking on local upholsterers. Probably won't do much with it until after our trip. We are enjoying the comfort of this good, solid furniture, but the red doesn't go so well with the dark green carpet. No matter...after nearly 40 years, it is time for new upholstery! Thank you so much for bringing the furniture to us. We will take good care of these heirlooms.

We decided to get carpet installed in the upstairs guest bedroom. I painted the floor white when we did the remodel. Mark always thought that was kind of a dumb idea, but I liked the look of the white painted farmhouse floor. Now the white paint has worn through in spots, and the brown paint underneath is showing through. It looks dirty. Time for a new look. The carpet store assures us that the carpet can be installed before our guests arrive on the 29th.

Tomorrow afternoon I go into PSU to meet with my thesis advisor again. I am making steady progress on the thesis. My goal is to rewrite one chapter a week. Then go back and do a third rewrite at the same rate. If I can stay on schedule, that will take about 40 weeks. Just in time to apply for graduation in spring term 2012.

Like Grandma, Like Granddaughter

I thought you'd love this photo of Olivia:

She likes to walk around with her finger in her belly button while she sucks her thumb...

...remind you of anyone?

It's a Party...

I'm staying home from work today. Yesterday was just too crazy. Three trips to the pharmacy, two more runs for groceries Mark had a hankering for. He was miserable all day. Side effects from the meds were worse than the illness itself.

I took time off work yesterday to take him to the ophthalmologist. Shingles is not in the eye. It could still go there, and we won't know for sure for a few more days. His left eyelid is all swollen and weepy, and the shingles have spread to right above the eyebrow. Ouch! Poor guy. But he's feeling a little better this morning now that he's switched off some of the meds that were making him so sick yesterday. (The pain med made him throw up. So they put him on an anti-nausea med that gave him a huge headache. Sheesh. Now he's on a different pain med and no anti-nausea med. Better.)

Kendra sent this photo this morning. She titled it, "Morning Party on Mom's Bed."

 I'm hoping to get some of my own writing work done today on my thesis, along with some grading and taking care of Mark. I meet with my thesis advisor at 5:30 this evening to get more of his feedback.

Just got this text message from Julia (8:20 am). "I am through security. My flight leaves at 9:45 so I am Granddad Early." I am so excited for her to fly to New Jersey today! She will get to see Maddy tomorrow.